Magnetic tape reproducing apparatus including automatic stop mechanism

Abstract

A magnetic tape reproducing apparatus includes two reel bases which can engage and drive reels of a cassette, and a detecting arrangement which can detect a stationary condition of a first of the reel bases resulting from the end of a tape having been reached. A mechanism is provided to initiate ejection of the cassette from the apparatus if an end of tape condition is detected during fast-forward or reproduction modes of operation, and to place the apparatus in reproduction mode if an end of tape condition is detected during rewind mode. Further, a mechanism is provided to brake the first reel base when the cassette is being inserted, and a mechanism is provided to override the detecting arrangement during cassette insertion.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A magnetic tape reproducing apparatus, comprising: a pair of rotatably supported reel bases which can each operationally engage a respective reel of a cassette pack;   a reproduction head and head shifting means supporting said reproduction head for movement toward and away from a reproduction position in which said reproduction head engages a tape within a cassette pack having reels operatively engaging said pair of reel bases, said head shifting means including means for resiliently urging said reproduction head toward said reproduction position;   mechanical detecting means operationally coupled to one of said reel bases for detecting a stationary condition thereof;   a mode selection switch which, when actuated, electrically selects a predetermined mode of operation of the apparatus;   switching means supported for reciprocal movement and operationally coupled to said head shifting means, said head shifting means effecting synchronous movement of said switching means and said reproduction head, said switching means being responsive to detection of a stationary condition of said one reel base by said detecting means for actuating said switch when said reproduction head is in said reproduction position;   selectively actuable fast-forward/rewind means for causing both of said reel bases to be rotated at high speed in a selected one of two opposite rotational directions, and means responsive to actuation of said fast-forward/rewind means for causing said head shifting means to move said reproduction head away from said reproduction position against the urging of said resilient means to a fast-forward/rewind position; and   means responsive to said detecting means for deactuating said fast-forward/rewind means in response to detection by said detecting means of a stationary condition of said one reel base;   wherein said detecting means includes: a detecting member coaxially rotationally supported on and frictionally engaging said one of said reel bases, said detecting member having therein a Y-shaped guide slot which has a stem portion and two branch portions; a rotating pulley having first and second cams thereon; and a movably supported oscillating member provided with a pin and a cam follower at respective ends thereof, said pin being slidably received in said Y-shaped guide slot, wherein when said one reel base is rotating said cam follower follows said first cam and moves said oscillating member so as to reciprocally move said pin between an intersection point of said branch portions and an end of one of said branch portions of said Y-shaped guide slot, and wherein when said reel base thereafter stops rotating said pin engages a protruding portion of said oscillating plate which is located between said branch portions and which holds said oscillating member in a position in which said cam follower is engaged by and then follows said second cam, said second cam moving said oscillating member so as to move said pin to an end of said stem portion of said Y-shaped guide slot remote from said protruding portion of said oscillating member;   wherein said switching means includes: a movably supported sliding plate which is operationally coupled to said head shifting means, said head shifting means effecting synchronous movement of said sliding plate and said reproduction head, and a switching link pivotally supported on said sliding plate, said link having one end which is engageable with said oscillating member and having a further end which can engage and actuate said mode selection switch;   wherein when said reproduction head is at said reproducing position said further end of said switching link on said sliding plate is positioned near said mode selection switch so that said oscillating member can readily engage said one end of said switching link and pivot said switching link and thereby cause said further end of said switching link to engage and actuate said mode selection switch when said detecting means effects movement of said oscillating member in response to detection of a stationary condition of said one of said reel bases; and   wherein when said reproduction head is at said fast-forward/rewind position said sliding plate is positioned so as to place said switching link at a location spaced from said mode selection switch and said oscillating member so as to prevent engagement of and rotation of said switching link by said oscillating member when said detecting means effects movement of said oscillating member in response to detection of a stationary condition of said one of said reel bases.   
     
     
       2. A magnetic tape reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for deactuating said fast-forward/rewind means is operationally cooperable with said oscillating member and responsive to movement of said oscillating member by said second cam to the position in which said pin thereon is at said end of said stem portion of said Y-shaped slot in said detecting member for effecting said deactuation of said fast-forward/rewind means. 
     
     
       3. A magnetic tape reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a movably supported canceling link engageable with said detecting member and operationally cooperable with said head shifting means, wherein when said head shifting means has moved said reproduction head to a stop position spaced from said reproducing and fast-forward/rewind positions said canceling link is engaging said detecting member and is yieldably urging said detecting member to pivot in a predetermined direction of rotation, and wherein when said reproduction head is in said reproduction and fast-forward/rewind positions said canceling link is spaced from said detecting member. 
     
     
       4. The magnetic tape reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein when said reproduction head is in said reproduction position and engaging a tape in a cassette, said reel bases rotate to effect movement of the tape in the cassette and said reproduction head reproduces information magnetically recorded on the tape; and wherein said predetermined mode of operation selected by said mode selection switch is automatic ejection of the cassette from said tape reproducing apparatus.